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ISLAM: THE TITLE AND THE CONTEXT
Names differ greatly in respect to their meanings and
implications, and also in respect to their usage.There are certain names which we encounter and deal
with everyday which are used quite randomly. There may be
no correlation between the name of an object and the
object itself, as is the case with numerous names, titles
and attributes.For example, when someone is named 'Khaz'al' or
'Ja'far', the actual relation between this name and the
person has not been taken into consideration. Khaz'al in
Arabic originally meant the hyena, and the word Ja'far
meant river. There is, as a matter of fact, no actual
correlation between people and the nature of a hyena or
river; yet they are used occasionally for naming male
children. This is a haphazard naming, a nullifying of the
relationship between name and subject.In other instances, a name is strictly chosen to suit
the subject and to truthfully represent it.For example, the name chosen by the Qur'an to
represent the teachings of the Seal of the Prophets,
Muhammad (s.a.w.). is 'Islam' - that is, absolute
submission and servitude to Allah alone.The Qur'an due to its unrivalled eloquence, chaste
language, deep expression and perfect combination of
words, meanings and syntax, carefully chose the name
'Islam' as a truthful expression of the message revealed
to Muhammad (s.a.w.). Consequently, this Qur'anic
selection is exact and general, maintaining harmony
between the manifestations of the teachings and the
teachings themselves.This connection between the teachings and their
contexts and aims can well be uncovered by first
resorting to the lexicons, from which we come to know
that the word 'Islam' means submission and surrender.
Then, moving from the lexical terminology, we should
carefully study the ideology, legislation and direction
of the teachings. We are then apt to recognize that the
whole religious structure, in its complete unity, aims at
submission and surrender to the Lord of the worlds,
and freedom from any type of submission or surrender to
human tyrants and illusionary legends.Thus we recognize the correlation between the name
'Islam', and the manifestations of the faith itself. The
Qur'an, as revealed by Allah through His Prophet Muhammad
(s.a.w.), has transformed this word, this name, from its
mere linguistic form to the foundation of a faith and way
of life.There is a complete and exact accord between the term
'Islam' and its hidden ideological and legislative
truths. This religion, this faith, is called 'Islam'
because it is a submission or surrender to the Lord of
the worlds, and is also a way towards the freedom and
salvation of mankind."Those who follow the Apostle-Prophet the
'Ummi' (one who neither reads nor writes), whom they find
ordained for them in the Torah and the Gospel, (who)
enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful
for them all good things and prohibits fur them the foul;
and removes from them their burden and the fetters
(spiritual and social) which were upon them; so (as for)
those who believe in him, honour him, help him and follow
the light which has been sent down with him, these it is
that are the successful." Sura A'raf (7:157)
